How to turn off the engine in a car from outside (doors are locked and keys inside)?

Its conceivable that you may be able to disconnect the fuel pump from under the car, depending on what type of car it is. Other than that you need to unlock a door somehow.

Turn Off The Engine

Probably can't pop the hood...so...uh...on my old junky car I had a method but it doesn't work on my new car. If you can get in the hood pull the battery cables? Might damage circuits or something though doing that while running. I'd also be afraid of messing with the hood latch near the fans and belts and pulleys while the engine is running or you'd probably lose an arm. Just spend the $60-100 and call it a good lesson in always having a spare key.

Lol nope, you just wired the Headunit/deck to the ACC position on the ignition bit. It is set so it activates when you have the key in the ACC position, that way it turns off when you take the key out the ignition and doesn't leave you with a flat battery. If you're running the car for a while and the battery is still low, I would suggest getting a new battery, if the battery is fine, check the alternator.

A coat hanger will get you into almost any car if you think creatively. A plastic doorstop is nice to have to, to slightly wedge the top of the door open for more room. First go for the power lock button, if this doesn't work try to hook onto the lock button. If its a ford, just try to pull the interior door handle and it will unlock. You could also try to use something to push the window button.

Or like someone else suggested, disconnect the electrical connector for the fuel pump under the car, if its accessible (follow the whine noise)

Probably better to let it run until he can get in the car. Kind of a devil's choice there - if he succeeds in shutting off the engine but can't turn off the ignition the battery will die in about the same time it will take to empty the tank if it runs. If he can get under the hood he can find ways to kill the engine and he can then disconnect the battery, but that can open up its own can of worms.

The ultimate solution is to get into the car. Towing companies often have what I have heard called "road service" people who are specialists at things like getting into cars that have keys locked in them (called "lockouts"). If he can let the engine run until morning that is probably his best bet. I paid $40 to get into my car about 10 years ago but I imagine it would be much more expensive at night.

Unless you can either use a coat hanger to unlock the door, or open the hood to get to the battery cable & remove it (usually not possible due to the inside hood lever, but not impossible) then you will need a locksmith...it may be covered under the auto insurance or AAA if someone has that

Per someone who called into the "Car Talk" radio show: Stuff something in the car's exhaust pipe. A car that cannot exhaust air will also not be able to take in air and, in a relatively quick period of time, shut down.

Do you live in Greensboro, NC and locked out of your car?

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Open the engine hood and remove the ground cable on the battery.